Automatic spark-controller for engines.



- C. V. HESS.

AUTOMATIC SPARK CONTROLLER FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-24. I9I4.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

YVITNESSES:

UNIT

CHARLES V. HESS,

or sonona,

CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC SPARK-CONTROLLER FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed November 24, 1914. Serial N 0. 873,732.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES V. Hess, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sonora, in the county of T uolumne and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Spark-Controllers for Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines, and particularly to an automatic spark timing regulator and speed controller governed automatically by the speed of the engine for proportionately advancing or retarding the spark.

It is an object of this invention to provide means controlled by the speed of rotation of the magneto shaft, or other driven part, for automatically advancing and retarding the spark by the actuation of the spark timer.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the timer end of a. magneto with the regulator attached. Fi g. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view at the opposite end of the magneto. Fig. 4 shows a form in which the governor is mounted on the magneto shaft.

2 indicates a magneto of a gas engine, with a suitable current distributor 3 and a spark timer, including a breaker cam 4 on the engine driven magneto shaft 5. a breaker lever pivoted in the timer box 7 and the breaker screw 8 thereon. The boX 7 is turnable clockwise on the shaft 5 to advance the time of sparking in the engine cylinders and is movable counter-clockwise to retard the spark. The cam 4 oscillates the lever 6 and this closes and breaks the spark circuit by engagement with screw 8.

The present invention provides means for automatically actuating the timer boX 7. This means includes a governor mounted upon an engine drive shaft of or related to the magneto so that the governor runs at a speed uniformly proportionate to the speed of the magneto.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a governor 10 -located upon the magneto shaft 5. InFigs. 2 and 3 the governor is mounted upon a governor shaft 11 geared at 1213 to the magneto shaft 5 which is driven by any suitable connection with the engine. Upon the shaft 11 is slidably splined a grooved collar lei with pins 15 engaged by opposite governor levers 16 with weights 17 connected by substantial springs 18 and pivoted upon a bearmg 16 fast on the shaft 11.

The shaft 11 is journaled ina bracket 19 attached to the magneto Q'and which has a standard 20, upon which is pivoted a lever 2i, operatively engaging the governor collar 14;. The opposite end of lever 21 is pivoted to a link 22 with a block 23 slidable in a rocker-arm 24 curved concentrically with the pivot of the link. The arm 24 is fastened on a rocker-shaft 25 mounted along one side of the magneto and having on its opposite end a member or lever 26 operatively engaging the timer box 7.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: From the idle position of the parts in Figs. 1, 2- and 3 for retarded or late spark, as the engine is started and the speed of the magneto shaft 5 and the governor is increased, the governor levers 16 are actuated by centrifugal force and act to shift the collar 14 on its shaft. This motion is transmitted by lever 21, link 22, arm 24, shaft 25 and lever 26 to and turns the box 7 clockwise, thus changing the time of breaking the contact at 68 and advancing the sparking time. The speed of the engine which drives the magneto is regulated by a carburetor throttle as usual. As the speed of the engine and magneto falls the automatic mechanism will reverse the movement of the timer and the spark be retarded.

For varying the angle of movement of the timer box from the limited movement of the lever 21 there is attached to the link 22 a suitable device including a manually operable link train 28 by which the link block 23 may be shifted outward along the rocker arm 24 to reduce its angular movement. A spring 29 may be connected to the link 22 to shift it and the block 23 toward the rocker shaft 25. It will be seen that as the driving speed of the magneto increases it will act on the governor and this will act to advance the spark, and as the speed falls the timer will be returned to initial, predetermined late position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by-Letters Patcut is-- 1. In combination with the electric sparlp ing timer of an internal combustion engine, a governor for the engine, a pivotally vmounted lever operable by the governor,

a link pivoted at one end to the lever, a second pivotally mounted lever pivotally connected to the timer and having one end portion formed With a slot curved concentrically with the pivot of the link, a block pivotally connected to the opposite end of the link and slidable in the lever slot, and manually operable means for sliding the block in the lever slot adapted for operation during movement of the engine.

2. In combination With the electric sparking timer of an internal combustion engine, of a governor, a lever movable, by the governor, a second lever pivoted between its ends and having one end connected to the timer and its opposite end formed with a curved slot, a link pivoted to the first lever at a point concentric to the curvature of the slot of the second lever and having its opposite end slidably secured in said lever slot, a spring connected to the link for holding it at the inner end of the lever slot, and means for moving the link in the lever slot against the action of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES V. HESS Witnesses v VVALTER L. CnEswELL, GEORGE E. Hess. 

